Means for use in erecting concrete structures



Aug. 19, 1930. I T. w. FOWLER 1,773,454

MEANS FOR USE IN ERECTING CONCRETE STRUCTURES Filed Sept. 10. 1927 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a. :7, mamas wumz FWIEK Aug. 19, 1930. T. w. FOWL ER MEANS FOR USE IN ERECTING CONCRETE STRUCTURES Filed Sept. 10, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a moulded in situ.

"Paten tecl Au 19, 1930 i 'rnoMAs WALKER FowLEn,

OF waaa ser ,giv mnn a. 4

means mt UsE IN Enemaeomnsm ecmnms d '7 Application filed september 10, 1927, Serial No.

This invention relates to an improved method of and means for use in erecting concrete structures and refers especially to a method of andme'ans forformingand erectso ingconcretewallunits orslabs in the conitlguction of buildings, 1 walls, fences and the 1 e. V V I I e The object of'the-inventionis'to provide a simple and efficient method of and meansfo'r' forming and handling constructional units or slabs of cement or concrete whereby wallscan be erected economically and expeditiously and when erected will have the same orcom paratively the same stability as buildings I accomplish the abovementionedobject by moulding a slab in a shallowtiltable mould having one or more removable sides whereby the mould with the formed slab may be tilted fromfahori'zontal or other convenient moulding position-"to avertical position and when the lower side of the mould is removed the slab is'plac'ed above a foundation and connected-to other slabs similarly formed 25 and erected to" form a single or cavity'wall structure. 7 V i -The moulds can be employed singly or two or moremay be secured withinaclamping frame when'slabs of largefsizejare' to be formedi The'mould' or group of moulds is or are 1 provided with removable sides'and ends and one or moreof the sides and ends may be unfast-ened' from the mould or moulds and be provided with members inserted or moulded into the concrete whereby the formed slabs with one or more of'the said side and/or end pieces may beerected' adj acent to each other above a foundation and the said sides'or end pieces utilized for" securing struts, tie beams or like temporary supporting members thereto while the building is in courseof erection. The sides of the moulds 7 can be shaped to form longitudinal grooves or recesses in the vertical edges of a slab whereby when the side pieces are removed reinforcing members projecting from adjacent slabs can be connected and the spaces therebetween filled'with cement or concrete to firmly lock the slabs together; r

A salient feature of the invention resides a erts e in We mebe s 1192 a I in theprovision of means for supporting-the mouldswhereby they can be tilted andraised or -lowered tofacilit'ate the plaicing'of a slab correctly in position above a foundation; -The moulds can be designed to shape the 5 slabs into" a -form that will ensure; them -hav-, 7 ing-a-minimum'iof weight or'thi'ckness with a 'maximum' ofstrength and' pro'vision can be made inmoulding the'said slabs forenabling linings of wood, fibro-ce1nent,- plaster.or the go like to-be conveniently attached tothe faces thereof; I I m.

In order that the invention, the-object and nature of which have beenset forth, may be readily understood; reference will now be had 5 to the accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings;wherein: K

Figure 1 is a; view in perspectiveillustrat ing one form'of mould and supporting means constructed in accordance with the invention. 7

In this'view'themou-ld and supporting-means are shown located'within aspace surrounded V by wall foundations upon portions-of which c slabs are molded to form wall'sections." f

Figure 2 is a view in sectional side eleva-' tio of a mould and the means for supporting the same; f 1

Figure 3 is a iew in sectional elevation of'a slab shaped by' amould and placed-inposition on thefoundation. f v i I Figured is aview in elevationof portion of a cradle forming part of the supporting means for a mould viewed in thedirection of- I the 'arrowft' shown in Figure 2;

Figure '5 -isaview in plan of a mould and e cradle, portions of the nould being shown re moved to clearly illustrate constructional details thereof. i e '7 i M Figure 6 is'a view-insection of the mould and one supporting member taken on the dotted line 6-6 of Figured 1 I Figure ;7 is a view "in section of part of a mould filledwith concrete and clearly illustrates aslight modification which hereinafter is fully described." a

,. a t l Figure 8 is a'viewinysection of the upper part'of a mould with portion of a slab therein.

Figure 9 is'a view in sectional elevation taken on 'the dotted line9 9iof FigureQ. v

' Figure 10 is a view inplan of portion of a "1 ,after will be fully described.

In these drawings the reference numeral designates stands comprising pairs of vertical members 11 and long base members 12.

A pair of jaws 13 extend upwardly from the vertical members ll and pivotally supported therebetween is a lever-14 having its long or power arm normally secured as by a pin 15 passing through a hole or holes in standards 16 fitted to the base. t

The end of the work arm of the lever is pivotallymounted as at 17 on a supporting cradle; The cradle comprises a pair of longitudinally disposed beams18 and transverse beams 19. The transverse beamscan be ar ranged in pairs and the power arms of the levers 14 preferably are pivotallymounted between each pair of transversebeams and at aboutthe' centre there0f.-

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the cradle is free to pivot .on tllQBIlClS of the levers and in order to maintain the said cradle in a horizontal position when the levers are lockedagainst movement links 20 or like devices are employed to connect one edge of the cradle to pivotally .connected to the transverse bars '19 of the cradle and thefree ends of the links are provided with a series of holes 21 adapted to take pins 22 for securing the links to the levers. (see Figures 2 and-9; of the drawings).

The. ends. of the longitudinal or side beams 18 of the cradle are provided with upwardly extending'hookmembers 23 whereby when a series of trays 24 are placed on the cradle they can be forced closely together by driving wedges 25 between the upwardly projecting hook members on one end of the beams and a batten 26 which forms a detachable side for the mould.

A-batten27 is inserted between the upward V ly projecting hooks on the opposite end of the beams 18 and the adjacent tray and the upwardly projecting portionofthis batten forms the second detachable. side of the corrugations 31 formed therein. Those portions of the tray which are situated between thetransverse members 29 and the ends are unade deeper than the intermediate portions andone of the ends of the longitudinal memhers is provided with upwardly extending brackets 32, which serve to locate and support a batten 33 closely against the upper ends of the trays to form the top of the mould.

The end batten 34 is detachably secured against the lower end of the mould by means of 11001: shaped catches 34 and the upper end batten is retained in position by means of nails-35, screws or like fastening devices which are inserted through holes 36 in the upwardly projecting hook shaped brackets 32.

If preferred thetrayscan be constructed entirely of sheetmetal pressed into a desired shape with or without a' reinforcing frame.

In proceedingtoerect, a wall the foundations 37 ofthe buildings are laid in the usual way and'the upper surfaces thereof are made quite level. then placed in position within the room areabounded by a foundation and the levers carrying the cradle. are connected thereto It willbe obvious that the stands can be located on the outside or inside of a building as desired or found most convenient-inpractice, 7 Y l Vhen thelevers have been pivotally mounted on the stands the cradle-is connected thereto and retained in a horizontal or other convenient moulding position byconnecting the links 20 to the said levers by means of the p s 2 The trays arethen placed on the cradle with the depending. hook shaped members 38 thereon engaging the upper longitudinal beam 18. The hook shaped members are disposed on the cradle in such a position as to cause the centr of gravity of the completed mould to be disposed approximately about the pivot connections with the power arms of the levers.

The trays may be spaced apart by intermediately disposed battens 39, which are of less-depth than the height. of the side rails 28 between the transverse members 29 of the trays. The spacing battens may, if desired, be permanently secured to the trays.

lVhenthe trays have been placed in position on the cradle the'side battens 26 and 27 are inserted between the out-most trays and the upwardly projecting hooks 23 and the upper and lower end battens; 33 and 34 are placed in position. The trays and spacing battens. 39 are drawn tightly together by inserting the wedges 25 between the upwardly extending hook-shaped brackets on the ends of the longitudinal members on the cradle and the adjacent side batten of the mould. 7

After a layer of concrete has been placed in the mould longitudinal reinforcing rods .40 may be inserted in the recesses 31 in the bottomthereof and these reinforcing bars may extend through holes 41 in the battens 26 and 27 forming the sides of the mould.

In additi n to ri i u t ei f g.

The stands 10 for the cradle are barsj above described or I wire reinforcements (indicated at 42' Figure 7 may be placed on the bottom of the trays,

plasterj II I II After the concrete or' 'other building mate? prior] to filling the mould concrete or rial has been placed injthe mouldthe upper surface thereof is llevelledg ofl'j-M end n 1ade smooth-fbyjmeans of float bars Iorother approved devices and'the' concrete'isiallowed {when-{the ana rams;pa tially iset 'the mould can'be tiltedto such 'an eXtenta s to enable its lower edge to rest upon'a stool or other support whereby? excessive strain will be removed fromthe'cradle 'andn1ould, I

as whenlarge' slabs are being formed; I I When the'concrete has set hard'the' lower end batten 34 is removed by unfaste'ninggtheihooks 34; and forcing it away from the ends of the trays and by releasing the work arms 7 of the levers fromthe Istandards16 themould -.after being swung into a vertical position can then be lowered on to the Figure 2 of the' 'drawings)'. Y I V I Whfnthe mould has been lowered; into foundation, (see position on the; foundation and suitably braced the wedges are knocked out torelease the sides of. themould and free the cradle The levers 14 are then raised to move the cradle downwardly out of engagement I withtheho ok sha ped'brackets 32 on the un dersides of the trays when thestandslO and a be :moved away from can be used to form another slab. I

It will be understood that the supporting standslO areplaced' in position to support the cradle and mould wh en"re-asse1nbl ed alongside of the erected slab whereby when i the second slab'is formed it may be ti-lted into position and erected on the i foundation alongside ofthe firstmenti oned slab;

c WVhen two or more slabshave 'beenerected abovethe foundationthe spacesbetween the adjacent vertical edges thereof are filled with concrete or grouting fandcwhen this concrete or grouting has set'th'e sections ofthewall V will be securely connected to each other and a a water proof joint ensured.

When the reinforcing wires aOproject beyond't'he sides of the slabs they can be twisted l together priorto filling the spacewith grout ingthereby serving'to give additional rigid;

, ity tothe structure.

' In some instances the 'j'slabs may be placed close together and the joints therebetwe'en maybe covered with wood or metal 'battens which are leftpermanently in position. The

slabs when erected maybe connected bytem por'ary supporting membersnailed to the'batc i' fi rsi fe si y seu t end battens 33] are" anchored? tothelttips of i I wall whenjthisis required;

ansassass nateiis sredgttteaoffaa t e a teiisla Se a t p e ip'le isj o the like which are embedded in the Ic on' c r'ete as shown in'Figure 8.

Ifdesired 'b'attens' LS i can belplaced mt body-crimemou up disposed spacing battens I39 and these battensl may be provided with upwardly projecting piece's'of wire orfnails 4A. adapted to; anchor I them to! the" face of the concrete 'slab'ftse e Figure 7) whereby linings of wood or fibrocement (not! shown") can be, readily affixed tothe walls after the samefhave' been erected. If desired sections of j the battens 43 and of theslab at "the sides lthereof can "be; removed I to provide aa-vfree circulation'of air in the space between the' 'innerflining jand the con-I AlternativelyIthelribs on theinside ofithe slabs can be formedof breeze concrete whereby llnings can be readlly'fsecured theret nails, screws or other 'fastenlngdevices;

The/linings can be securedby boltsj rivets or likemenibers' moulded into the slabs and having portions projecting therefrom and adapted tobe inserted in holes in the lining or in .straps'covering the jointsthe'reofl I In the right hand-side of Figure' Z5a bolt 38is shown having i-t'slthreaded ,endsupported in a plastic; substance" in a hole 39 formed in a' spacingbatten 39 whereby the head of the b'olt is securely" anchored I the slab during the moulding operation. The protrudingen dsof the bolts 39 can pass through holes in the lining or, through covering strips or strapsiandtheglatten are retained in position on the slab by mea n s of nuts fitte'dto the bolts. 6

inc I The on the inside of the fojrmed siab I ensures a requisite degree": of strength and" also fa'ci'lita'te' the application of" a coat of plaster *or other lining to the inside the When doors; windows or other openings;

are made in';the"slabs theymay be form'ed b'y placing frames as 45,rblocks or the likefin' position onfthe mould sofas to prevent con Crete; entering I the space Ie'nclosed thereby;

Theframescan be retained in position during moulding operations by any approvedmeans.

In Figures5 andi6 of the drawings aframe is shown which is adapted'to leave a door opening in the'slah and this franie'may be removed after" the slabhas set and has be'en placedin position on the-foundation.

chored in the slab anderected therewith.

The doors or window sashes can be mounted in their respective frames beforethe'said, I I

frames are placed inthe mould. I L e 7 Th'e -frame may bela'id on-the bottom of jthemould and "the slab formed therearound I whereby the said frame will be securely 'anjconcrete around the said frames.

. When large slabs are being formed the base of the stands 10 for the cradle may be weighted to counterbalance and prevent movement of the same when the slabs are being tilted to be placed in position on the foundation. @Alternatively, the base maybe extended through openings in the foundation as illustrated in Figure 1 or they may be located above the foundation and suitablefopenings provided in the bottom edge of the slabs whereby the openings will fit over the eX-.

tensions of the base of the stands.

When the openings are formed in the lower edges of the slabs to accommodate the extension on thebase of the-standsthey may be filled with concrete after the said stands have been'removed or these openings may be retained for ventilating purposes. 1

In adapting the invention to the formation of a hollow wall, that is, walls having an internal cavity, the outer wall sections can be erected first as previously described and the inner wall sections are then erected by placin g slabs on the foundation at a suitable distance therefrom. Alternatively the inner wall section can be erected before the outer wall sectionv 3 v The inner slabs may be of the same thickness or thinner than the outer slabs and the inner and outer wall sections can be connected by wall ties (not shown) secured within the grouting between the two adjoining sections of the slabs or in any other approved way.

' f preferred the slabs of'the outer wall section 47 can be made quite plain as shown in Figure 10 and their edges can be formed with grooves tfiwhereby when two slabs are erected close to each'other grouting orcement can be poured into the. space therebetween to make a strong joint. The joint between the edges of adjacent slabs can be'strengthened by twisting together the. projecting ends of reinforcingrods prior to'pouring the grouting. 4

The inner wall section 48 may be made and erected as hereinbefore described and the pro jecting ends of the reinforcing rods' iO are twisted together as at 49 prior to pouring grouting between the joint. Y When adivision wall 49 is arranged in line with a joint between the slabs of an outer wall the projecting ends of the reinforcing bars can be twisted around the barsconnecting the outer wall sections thereby forming tie bars. (as 50) which serve to. strengthenthe connection between thedivision wall and outer wall and retain. the outer and inner wall sections 47 and .48 at a desired distance apart.

In those cases where a division wall is not disposed in line with the joints' in an outer wall the reinforcing'wires at the joints are InFigure 1,012 the drawing's'each wall is shown composed of asingle slab but it will be obvious that the slabs can be of any desired width and two'or moreseparate slabs can be employed to form a wall.

If desired the longitudinally'disp'osed reinforcing members may be dispensed with'and the adjacent slabs of a wall or fence may then be connected bygrouting or concrete poured into suitably arranged moulds 51 (see Figure 11 of the drawings).

In order toprevent the grouting uniting with the ends of the slabs, thereby hindering their contraction when setting, the said ends may, prior to the insertion of the concrete or grouting, be given a coating of oil, grease or the like.

When erecting fences or boundary walls in this manner, a hole may be formed in the ground immediately below the gap between adjacent slabs, so that the concrete or grouting, when poured, passes thereinto and serves as a post as well as a'connecting member.

It will be obvious that, if desired, the mould 51 may be arranged so that one or both surfaces of the concrete or grouting will be flush with the adjacent faces of the slabs.

l/Nhilst I have described in the foregoing and method of operation without departing from the spirit and scope of the same and, I therefore, do notwish to be understood as lim iting myself by the positive terms employed herein.

I claim 1. Apparatus for moulding and erecting slabs of concrete in forming wall structures comprising a shallow tiltable mould having removable sides, one or more stands or sup ports carrying pivoted supporting levers, pivotal connections between the work arms of the levers and the mould, and means for securing the levers and the mould in a fiXed position. during the moulding operation.

2. Apparatus for moulding and erecting slabs of concrete in forming wall structures, comprising a shallow tiltable mould, removable sides and ends on the mould, levers connected to the mould and pivotally mounted,

" on the work'arms of the levers, means for securing the levers in fixed positions on the stands, a plurality of traysdetachably secured to the cradle, means for'detachably securing side battens between thetrays and the ends of the cradle and forclamping the trays closely together, means for securing battens t0 the upper and lower ends of the trays, and means for retaining the cradle in a horizontal position during moulding operations constructed and arranged whereby the trays can-be tilted to place a formed slab in a vertical position above a foundation.

4. Apparatus for moulding and erecting slabs of concrete in forming wall structures consisting of a plurality of stands, levers pivoted to the said stands, a cradle pivotally supported on the work arms of the levers, means for securing the levers in a fixed position on the stands or supports,'members for connecting the cradle to the levers or to the supports for retaining it in a horizontal position, trays detachably mounted on the cradle, hook shaped brackets on the cradle and wedges for retaining the trays correctly in position on the cradle, hook shaped brackets on the upper ends of the trays for securing a top plate along the upper edges of the trays, a batten detachon the frame.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5- whereinone of the sides of the mould constitutes a top plate havingnails or wires projecting inwardly therefrom whereby the top plate a will :be securely anchored to a slab moulded 8. Apparatus for moulding and erecting slabs of concrete accordingto claimf), wherein spacing battens'are interposed between. the trays on the cradle and said battens are of less depth than the sidesof the tray.

concrete slabs according to claim 5, recesses in the mould and holes inthe moulding faces of the members forming therecesses adapted,

to temporarily receive the ends of fastening members, whereby when a slab is formed in the mould the upwardly extending portions ofthe fastening members will-be anchored therein and the portions temporarily received in the holes will be leftprojecting from the l I face of the slab.

In witness whereof I hereunto affix my Sig THoMAs WALK R FOWLER. I

nature.

ends and sides secured to the tray and forming therewith a shallow mould, transverse grooves in the trays, and holes in the sides A of the trays adapted to accommodate rein-' forcing bars disposed longitudinally in the recesses or corrugations in the trays.

6. Apparatus for moulding and erecting slabs of concrete in forming wall structures,

comprising a plurality of fixed supports adapted to be located adjacent to a wall foundation, levers pivotally mounted on the supports, a cradle pivoted to the work arms .of the'levers, means for detachably connecting the levers tothe cradlewhereby it will be retained in a horizontal position, a plurality of trays having depending hook shaped members adapted to engage one sideof the cradle, upwardly projecting hook shaped members on the ends of the cradle, side bat tens disposed between the hook shaped members and'the sides of the trays, wedges for I securely clamping the said battens to the '75 9. In apparatus formouldi-ng anderecting' trays and for retaining the trays closely together, a batten secured detachably to the lower ends of the trays, a top, plate detachably secured'to the upper ends of the trays, and means in the bottom of the trayand in the side battens for accommodating longitudinally disposed reinforcing members. 

